Ebbsfleet beat out-of-form rivals Dover at home on Saturday to progress to the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. In-form striker Dominic Poleon broke the visitors’ resistance towards the end of the first half with his 10th goal this season before defender Sido Jombati sealed their victory after the restart.
The hosts threatened first at Stonebridge Road in front of a crowd of 1,057 with three minutes played. Whites goalkeeper and birthday boy Stuart Nelson made a big save to thwart winger Darren McQueen who had broken behind Dover’s three centre-halves.
Ebbsfleet boss Dennis Kutrieb was unhappy in the 11th minute as away skipper Lee Martin escaped a booking for a foul. From the free-kick, defender Hayden Hollis headed wide Fleet captain Chris Solly’s right-wing delivery.
Both Alfie Pavey and Reece Grant then attempted to bring down home players as they attempted to counter-attack, five minutes later, with the former becoming the first player to go into referee Michael Robertson-Tant’s book.